1410 WIZM

Is there a future for the Farmers?

That is, the Marching Farmers Band from West Salem Middle School?

The school wants to rename its band the Panthers, to fit the West Salem High School mascot, and the school board plans to discuss the idea. Superintendent Troy Gunderson says the Marching Farmers, who wear jeans and checkerboard shirts when performing, have been a tradition at the Middle School for decades.  Gunderson says the Farmer identity was created decades ago by a school music teacher, when the West Salem district was more rural.

A non partisan budget hearing will be held Monday April 25th at UW-L and will feature area lawmakers who want your voice to be heard in Madison when it comes to Governor Scott Walker's proposed 2 year budget.

Senate Democrat Kathleen Vinehout is encouraging people to attend the hearing......and let lawmakers know how the budget would effect you. She says all documentation will be taken back to the state's capitol.

 

Others in attendance will include Representative's Chris Danou and Jennifer Shilling along with lawmakers from Madison and Milwaukee.

The hearing will be held from 1-7pm at the Cartwright Center, room 339.

A water rate hike in La Crosse would take half as big of a bite out of your wallet for now if an agreement reached in the city council sticks this week.   The water utility had hoped for the first water rate increase in nine years.   One that would add 13 dollars per quarter to the average customer's bill, or, an increase of around thirty percent.   But the city council wants to phase that increase in over a couple of years.   Possible hitch in the plan:  water utility manager Mark Johnson says the state's public Service Commission might turn down the half now, half later plan.  

Thirty existing billboards may come down in La Crosse under a deal reached by city council members this week.   The sign company, Olympus Media, has convinced the council to allow half of the amount of billboards to come down around the city as are supposed to under an ordinance allowing digital signs.   Olympus, formerly Collins signs, wants to put up four big digital billboards.   Depending on the size of the regular billboards, that could mean anywhere from eight to 30 will have to come down in exchange for the new electric signs.